The Chihuahua puppy did not mean to go into the water. That is important to establish upfront. No Chihuahua has ever voluntarily entered the sea. The ocean is cold, wet, and contains fish, and Chihuahuas want nothing to do with any of those things.
But at Dunbar Harbour in Scotland, the waves decided otherwise. The puppy was near the water’s edge when a wave swept it in. One second it was on solid ground. The next second it was in the North Sea, which is the last place a four-pound dog should ever be.
Its owner, a 21-year-old man, did not hesitate. He jumped in after it.
Into the Water
Dunbar Harbour is not a swimming beach. It is a working harbour with stone walls, strong currents, and water cold enough to induce hypothermia in minutes. It is the kind of place where the emergency services spend a lot of time telling people not to enter the water under any circumstances.
The man entered the water under these circumstances: his Chihuahua was drowning.
To anyone who has owned a small dog, this requires no further explanation. You do not weigh the risks. You do not assess the conditions. You do not think about hypothermia or currents or the fact that the coast guard would really prefer you stayed on land. Your dog is in the water, and you are going to get your dog out of the water, and that is the entire decision-making process.
The Coast Guard Rescue
The coast guard was called when it became clear that both the man and the dog were in trouble. The water was too cold, the harbour walls too steep, and the distance back to safety too far for a man who was now holding a terrified, soaking Chihuahua puppy above the surface while trying not to go under himself.
Rescue teams arrived and pulled both of them from the water. The man was treated for cold water exposure. The puppy was shaken, wet, and alive.
The coast guard issued a reminder about the dangers of entering the water after pets — a reminder that is completely reasonable and that every dog owner in the same situation would completely ignore.
Why Small Dogs and Water Are a Dangerous Combination
Chihuahuas are not built for water. They can swim — most dogs can, instinctively — but they have almost no stamina for it. Their tiny legs generate minimal propulsion, their low body fat means they lose heat rapidly, and their small lung capacity means they fatigue fast.
A Chihuahua in moving water is in serious danger within minutes. Key risks:
- Hypothermia. Cold water drains a small dog’s body heat exponentially faster than a large dog. In the North Sea, a Chihuahua could become hypothermic in under five minutes.
- Drowning from exhaustion. A dog that small cannot swim for long. Even in calm water, a Chihuahua’s energy reserves deplete quickly.
- Panic. Dogs in water they did not choose to enter panic, which increases energy expenditure and decreases their ability to keep their head above the surface.
- Current. Any current that is manageable for a human is overwhelming for a four-pound dog. They can be carried away faster than they can be reached.
How to Keep Your Chihuahua Safe Near Water
- Use a leash near any water. Harbours, rivers, lakes, even garden ponds. If your Chi is near water, they should be on a lead.
- Consider a dog life jacket. Yes, they make them in Chihuahua sizes. For boat trips, beach visits, or lakeside walks, a fitted life vest keeps a small dog afloat if they go in unexpectedly.
- Know your limits. If your dog enters dangerous water, call for help. Do not go in yourself unless you are certain you can get out. Cold water kills humans too.
- Keep them away from waves. On beaches, stay well back from the waterline. A wave that barely reaches your ankles can sweep a Chihuahua off their feet.
He Would Do It Again
The coast guard was right to warn people about water rescues. The statistics on drowning deaths from pet rescues are sobering.
But the man who jumped in was also right — not strategically, not logically, but in the way that every dog owner understands: your dog is in the water, and you cannot stand on the wall and watch.
They both survived. The puppy is dry. And somewhere in Scotland, a 21-year-old is probably keeping his Chihuahua very far from the harbour.
Worried about your Chihuahua’s safety? Read our complete Chihuahua care guide for essential safety tips.
